oil tanker explosion off Nigerian coast

An explosion occurred on an oil tanker operated by the oil company SEPCOL at the Ukpokiti oil field off the coast of Nigeria. The ship, which is located in the Niger River delta and has an oil storage capacity of 2 million barrels, was engulfed in flames after the explosion. “There are currently no reported fatalities, but we can confirm that there were 10 crew members on board before the incident. We are prioritizing investigations into their safety,” said Ikemefuna Okafor, SEPCOL Chief Executive Officer. Noting that an investigation was launched to determine the cause of the explosion, Okafor stated that they are trying to bring the situation under control.